Getting around Plymouth

If you’re travelling by car, the A38 dual carriageway, also known as the Devon Expressway is usually the main route to and from the city. You can go west to reach Cornwall via the Tamar Bridge, or follow it east to Exeter where you’ll find the nearest major motorway junction (M5).

Beyond the car, though, there are various other travel options in Plymouth. Plane, ferry, bus, boat, train, taxi – to be honest, you’re a bit spoilt for choice. Good job our guide to getting around Plymouth is here to help.

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Airport transfers

Plymouth did have a domestic airport of its own until 2011. Now, if you’re flying in it’ll most likely be to either Exeter Airport or Cornwall Airport Newquay. They’re both just under 50 miles away, taking roughly an hour to get into Plymouth. If you book a flight that gets in early or late, it might be worth booking a stay at one of the many hotels near Exeter airport.

From Exeter Airport you can rent a car from approved names like Avis, Hertz and Europcar. Another option is to get a taxi. Apple Taxis Exeter are the airport’s official provider – we wouldn’t recommend catching a cab all the way from the airport to Plymouth (it would cost you an arm and a leg) but it’s only five miles from the airport to the city centre where you can travel quite reasonably to via bus or train.

Similarly, from Cornwall Airport Newquay Europcar and Hertz are your car rental options. Or you can take the bus, or catch a cab from the arrivals hall with Coastline Travel Cornwall, to get into Newquay and then take it from there.

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Public Transport

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Plymouth Railway Station

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Airport Transfers

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Public transport

If you’re travelling by coach into Plymouth, you’ll arrive at the newly opened Plymouth Coach Station that’s replaced the Bretonside Bus Station. It’s right in the heart of the city, off Armada Way. National Express operates coach services connecting Plymouth with the rest of the country from here. Plus, you’ll soon be able to get on the Stagecoach Falcon – it might sound like a more modern version of a famous fictional spaceship, but it actually refers to a brand new fleet of buses from Stagecoach that will operate a 24/7 coach service around the south-west, connecting Plymouth, Exeter, Taunton, Bristol Airport and Bristol city centre.

A slightly less conventional option for getting around is Plymouth’s Waterlinks. The city’s official water taxis operate harbour cruises and pedestrian ferries to connect the Barbican and Sutton Harbour with Mount Batten in the Plymouth Sound, Royal William Yard, and two picturesque villages in Cornwall: Cremyll and Cawsand.

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Train stations

Plymouth Railway Station is one of the busiest transport hubs in the south west, serving over two and a half million passengers a year. It’s on the main line to London Paddington, with trains to the capital taking around three hours. It’s also the beginning of the Cornish Main Line that connects Plymouth with Penzance and crosses over the stunning Royal Albert Bridge at Saltash.

Operating across six platforms, you can travel to most of the country from Plymouth Railway Station, with tickets available from the office on the west side of the station. There’s also a range of shops where you can pick up a newspaper or a snack for your journey.

It’s worth sneaking in a mention of the Mayflower Land Train here, too. Jump aboard if you want a fun and informative tour of Plymouth. The train pulls into four stops around the city: the Guildhall, the Mayflower Steps, Smeaton’s Tower and West Hoe Fun Park. The journey takes about 40 minutes, during which you’ll get to see and hear the history of the city. You don’t have to take in the whole tour, though; you can get off at any of the stops and start exploring by foot.

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